The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-07-07

A POLITICAL REMINIsCENCE-
The Atehis0n Champion, under
the above heading, gives the follow
ing Interesting history: "The Hon.
John F. smythe, late suPerintend-
ent Of insurance Of the state Of New
York, died Of dropsy June 30, at Al
bany. NY. Mr.. Smythe was at one
time a very influential politician, q
great personal friend OF Roscoe
Conkling's, and for a few years the
republican boss Of Albany county.
A Scotehman by birth, he came 10
the United States when q boy and
settled ia Utica. He was a brewer
by trade, aud got his start in busi-
ness while In the employ Of Taylor
q Sons, the great Albany brewers
He subsequently, drifted into poll
ties,and BY his shrewdness as a man.
ipulatOr, soon came to be recOg-
nized as one o. the powerful factors
OF the republican politics Of the
Empire state. when Smythe was
seeking the appointment Of superin-
tendent OF insurance, a singular i'm
cident worth relating. and never be-
fore In print, occurred, the facts Of
which were personally known 10 the
writer, 10 whom they were given by
Smythe and other mutual friends at
the time. Lucius Robinson, dem
oerat, was governor Of the state, the
senate. the confirming body, was
republican. For political reasons
Gov. Robinson refused TO appoint
Smythe, although he had been
strongly recommended for the posi-
ton by the leading politicians Of
both parties. The famous electoral
commission in the Hayes and Tilden
contest was In session at this time
Roscoe COnkling, it will be remem-
bered, for some days prior TO the aP-
pOintment Of the commission, and In
fact for several days after the com
mission had been organized and
gone TO work, studiously refrained
from expressing any opinion as to
the final result Of it's labOrs. Col.
PeltOn, Tilden's nephew and conf
Dental agent, was In Washington
watching the proceedings Of the
commission and looking after TIL
den's interests. One evening, the
fourth day after the commission had
been In session, Mr.. Tilden received
q dispatch from Washington, in
cipher, saying: 81 have sounded
Roscoe Conkling,and II the exigency
requires il, he will stand by you and
pull you through, provided you wire
Robinson TO send in Smythe's name
a. superintendent OF insurance al
Once,n signed, "PeltOn." Upon re-
ceipt Of this telegram, Mr.. Tilden
wired Gov. Robinson to appoint
Smythe without delay. Within two
hours afterwards Smythe's name
went into the senate and was con-
lrmed.
The day following Mr.. Tilden
wired his nephew, PeltOn: Il have
performed my part Of the contract
you must now hold Conkling TO his. 4"
To this dispatch Pelton replied: 81
don't understand your last, explain -
Il then leaked out that the original
telegram was bogus, and that Pelton,
Tilden, and Robinson had been vie
timized In the interest of Smythe.
But smythe was appointed and con-
firmed and IL WAS too late To change
the appointment. Who sent that
telegram Mr.. Tilden never knew,
den did Lucius Robinson ever dis
cover its author. IL was a very
shrewd trick only made possible oi
complete execution by fOrtuituour
combination of circum stances. Til
den and Robinson laughed over II
afterwards, although they were very
angry at the time. Smythe filled
out his official term, subsequently
auarreled with Conkling, was
crowded out of politics, and retired
90 his original business. He was in
many respects one Of the b,s politi-
cal organizers the Republican party
Of New York ever had.